In Washington, dual credit programs allow high school students to earn both high school and college credits simultaneously, providing a head start on college education and potentially reducing the time and cost of a college degree. While public school students have clear pathways to dual credit opportunities through state funding, private school students encounter different access dynamics.
1. Running Start allows high school juniors and seniors to take college courses at Washington’s community and technical colleges, earning both high school and college credits.
- Private school students can participate but must be dually enrolled in both a public school and their private school.
- Public and private school students are responsible for associated costs and transportation.
2. Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) offer rigorous, college-level courses within the high school, with exams that can yield college credits depending on the student’s scores and the college they later attend.
- Many private high schools offer AP courses, and some offer IB courses. However, the availability of AP and IB programs varies widely among private schools, and students and families typically bear the costs associated with exams.
3. College in the High School (CiHS) enables high school students to take college-level courses at their high school, with credits granted by participating colleges.
- Access to CiHS is dependent on agreements between private schools and colleges. Some private schools partner with colleges to offer CiHS, and they may cover course administrative costs. Private schools with fewer resources or smaller enrollments may not provide these options.
- Private school students must pay for their college credits, whereas the state pays the colleges and universities for the public school students’ college credits. This is a barrier to private school students connecting with WA state schools for higher education.
WFIS advocates for more equitable access to dual credit opportunities for private school students, including policy changes that ensure all students are equally poised to enter WA public colleges and universities.
